The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

3.8.2.10 PhA - qualification & payability

Summary

This topic covers the following:

  • who may be paid PhA
  • PhA not payable in certain circumstances
  • absences from Australia (1.1.A.320)
  • payment to certain principal carer parents
  • income and assets testing, and
  • advance of PhA.

Who may be paid PhA

The following table sets out who may be paid PhA, the criteria that must be met and relevant references.

Payment and criteria for receipt of PhA SSAct references for qualification of PhA Details of payment
DSP, AND under 21 without dependent children section 1066A-D1 (not blind)

section 1066B-D1 (blind)

 3.6.1 DSP - qualification & payability
Parenting payment (single)

Note: Pension supplement is paid to those who have reached the qualifying age for age pension.

The pension supplement basic amount is paid to those UNDER the qualifying age for age pension.

 section 1068A-C1 3.5.1 PP - qualification & payability
Jobseeker payment, AND

  • temporarily incapacitated
  • have partial capacity to work
  • be a single principal carer, OR
  • over 55 years of age AND has received income support continuously for at least 9 months.
 section 1068-D1 3.2.1 JSP - qualification & payability
Parenting payment (partnered), AND

  • temporarily incapacitated (if subject to mandatory participation requirements), OR
  • have a partial capacity to work and have claimed and been granted payment on or after 1 July 2006, OR
  • over 55 years of age AND has received income support continuously for at least 9 months, AND
  • under the qualifying age for age pension.

Note: Pension supplement is paid to those who have reached the qualifying age for age pension.

 section 1068B-E1 3.5.1 PP - qualification & payability
ABSTUDY, AND meet the following criteria:

  • the student or Australian Apprentice must qualify for one of the following ABSTUDY Awards

    • Schooling B Award, or
    • Tertiary Award, and
  • the student or Australian Apprentice must be entitled to receive living allowance, and
  • the student or Australian Apprentice must be either
    • temporarily incapacitated for study or their apprenticeship, training or trainee apprenticeship, or
    • aged over 55 years.
   See ABSTUDY Policy Manual
Austudy payment, AND

  • over 55 years of age AND has received income support for at least 9 months, AND
  • under the qualifying age for age pension.

Note: Pension supplement is paid to those who have reached the qualifying age for age pension.

 section 1067L-C1 3.3.3 Austudy - qualification & payability
YA (job seeker or full-time student, or Australian Apprentice), AND

  • be temporarily incapacitated.

YA (job seeker), AND

  • have a partial capacity to work, OR
  • be a single principal carer.
 section 1067G-C1 3.2.3 YA - qualification & payability
Special benefit, AND

  • temporarily incapacitated, OR
  • over 55 years of age AND has received income support for at least 9 months, AND
  • under the qualifying age for age pension.

Note: SpB recipients are NOT required to be Australian residents in order to be paid PhA.

Note: Pension supplement is paid to those who have reached the qualifying age for age pension.

 section 729 (qualification for SpB

Note: SpB is a DISCRETIONARY payment.

 3.7.1 SpB - qualification & payability

Policy reference: SS Guide 5.1.7.20 PhA - current rates, 3.12.1 Pension supplement - qualification & payability

PhA not payable in certain circumstances

PhA is not paid to a person who:

  • receives a transitional rate pension
  • receives pension supplement at greater than the pension supplement basic amount
  • receives veterans supplement or MRCA supplement from DVA, or their partner receives veterans supplement or MRCA supplement from DVA and is not a service pensioner, or
  • has received an advance of PhA under SSAct Part 2.23.

Act reference: SSAct Part 2.23—Advance pharmaceutical allowance

Absences from Australia

PhA is payable for the same length as a person's main payment if they go overseas temporarily.

Policy reference: SS Guide 7.1.2.20 Application of portability rules (portability table), 7.1.2.10 General rules of portability

Payment to certain single principal carer parents following the death of their only dependent child

If a person on JSP or YA (job seeker) is a single principal carer of a dependent child who dies, PhA continues to be payable for the bereavement period of 14 weeks.

Act reference: SSAct section 567G Death of child—continuation of YA rate for 14 weeks, section 660M Death of child-continuation of JSP rate for 14 weeks

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.2.1.90 Continuation, variation or termination of JSP, 3.2.3.70 Continuation, variation or termination of YA

Income & assets testing of PhA

PhA is added to an eligible person's payment before the payment is income and assets tested. If, after applying the tests a person is entitled to ANY amount of PhA, they receive the full PhA amount.

Advance of PhA

Recipients of PPS and disability support pensioners who are under 21 without dependent children can claim up to 7 times the fortnightly rate of PhA as an advance payment if they meet certain criteria.

Act reference: SSAct section 1061F(1) Qualification for advance PhA

Policy reference: SS Guide 5.4.3 PhA advance payment

Last reviewed: